Apr 08 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka and Vietnam have held discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of public security, law and order when the Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Prof. Gen Tran Dai Quang called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees Monday.

Welcoming the visiting Minister, who as on an official visit to Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa thanked the Government of Vietnam for its consistent support to Sri Lanka at international fora, especially during the recent session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The President also recalled how the government and the people of Sri Lanka and he himself, since his student days, supported the heroic struggle of Vietnamese people against foreign domination.

Prof. Gen Tran Dai Quang, while appreciating Sri Lanka's support for his country said that the long-standing traditional friendship between the two nations should be further strengthened not only for the benefit of their people but also to ensure long-lasting peace, development and security in the region.

The Vietnamese Minister invited President Rajapaksa to visit his country again in the near future.

Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers recently approved a proposal put forward by the Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem to sign a treaty with Vietnam to allow the prisoners of one country in the other's jails to complete their prison sentences in their own country. Minister Hakeem was expected to sign the agreement with the visiting Vietnamese Minister.

Ambassador of Vietnam in Sri Lanka Ton Sinh Thanh, Director General of External Security Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Thanh and the Director General of International Cooperation Major General Tran Gia Cuong were associated with the Vietnamese Minister.

Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Order Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi, Inspector General of Police Mr. N.K. Ilangakoon and the Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Seneviratne were also present.